I switched to wireless peripherals a while back, thanks to the convenience, esthetics, and comparable performance to wired counterparts. I've used multiple wireless mechanical keyboards, mice, and headsets, and don't think I'll ever go back to wired devices. That said, I haven't thrown away my old wired keyboard, mouse, and headset just yet. They still serve a few purposes, rare as they may be. Sometimes, it's just easier to plug in a wired keyboard and get things done, and other times, my wired headset is objectively better than my wireless one.
4 reasons I'm never switching back to wired peripherals
Wired peripherals have their place, but I'm too far gone to switch back
Setting up customer PCs is easier with a wired keyboard and mouse
Convenience of a different kind
A big reason why I haven't given away my wired keyboard and mouse is that I frequently need to set up new PCs for customers, as part of my business. This means installing Windows, optimizing the BIOS, and setting up the system with a few necessary programs. If I want to use my wireless keyboard and mouse on a new PC I'm setting up, I'll have to remove them from my PC, and pair them to the new system.
I don't like doing this, and when I have a perfectly working wired keyboard and mouse in my cupboard, why bother? I simply take them out and enjoy the plug-and-play convenience that comes with them. My wired keyboard doesn't have any faulty keys, and the wired mouse does what I need it to do, nothing fancy. These old devices still play an important role in my workflow, and I've gotten used to them. My wireless and wired peripherals fulfill their separate roles perfectly.
5 old devices and peripherals you can pry from my cold, dead hands
These older products are still part of my setup
Lately, my wired headset has been coming in clutch
My wireless mic still gives me problems
Ever since I started using wireless headsets on my PC, it's never been a seamless experience. Don't get me wrong: I have no problems with charging the headset frequently, and the audio quality has been flawless. However, when it comes to microphone quality, I've had more reliable performance on my old wired headset. When my current Razer headset's mic inevitably runs into this issue, and my friends on Discord can't make out what I'm saying, I default to my wired headset to keep the show going.
I can never predict when the microphone will give me trouble, so I always keep my old headset on hand. The moment my friends start complaining about my comms, I plug in my wired headset and the problem disappears. I've tried fixing the issue on my wireless headset, but so far, it remains one of the unresolved issues on my PC even after 3 years. I had moved on from my wired headset not because it developed faults, but because its headband had worn off. It still works without any problems.
I switched to an all-wireless PC setup, and here's what went right (and horribly wrong)
Going fully wireless sounds cool, but it's not without problems
I still need them for troubleshooting
When wireless isn't an option
Finally, my wired keyboard is essential in the rare events when I need to troubleshoot my PC. If this involves heading into the BIOS or recovery, my wireless keyboards don't always work as intended. My Bluetooth keyboards don't connect to the system unless I have booted to the desktop, so I'm left with no option but to use my old wired keyboard. And it's not a huge inconvenience either — this kind of troubleshooting is rare, and I maybe have to do it twice a year, at most.
I don't intend to move back to wired peripherals, but they still serve as backup devices for some edge cases. So, even though I have fully embraced the wireless life, I can't just discard my old wired peripherals yet. Selling them won't fetch me much, and some of them (my headset) aren't in a condition to be given away to someone else.
5 parts and peripherals from my old PCs that I use to this day
It's often out with the old, in with the new, but I still use some of my oldest PC hardware
Wired devices can sometimes trump wireless ones
If you have your old wired peripherals around, you'll agree that they're not completely useless. And if you're planning to switch to an all-wireless setup, you might want to hold on to your wired peripherals, just in case. Chances are, your wired devices are old enough to not have good resale value, so instead of getting rid of them, you should consider retaining them for a rainy day. Your wireless peripherals aren't perfect, and may need assistance one fine day.